Meet The UVA Team

 Dr. Tara Hofkens is our Principal Investigators. With a PhD in Learning Science and Policy and an M.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology, Dr. Hofkens applies her expertise as a Research Assistant Professor at UVA to study the dynamics of engagement and social interactions in school, and how classroom experiences contribute to developmental and educational trajectories from early childhood through adolescence.

One of our Principal Investigators, Bob Pianta, is the founding director of the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning at UVA, among many other titles. An internationally recognized expert in both early childhood education and K-12 teaching and learning, Dr. Pianta's research and policy interests focus on the intersection of education and human development. His work has advanced conceptualization and measurement of teacher-student relationships.

Karime is the APL project manager at the Virginia site. She has an M.Ed. in educational psychology and developmental applied science from the University of Virginia. Karime works at the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, where she has gained valuable experience managing large scale research projects on children’s curiosity and creativity, teacher and children SEL. In her role she collaborates with and supports teachers, coaches, and the research team. 

As one of our coaches, Jen serves as an Education and Outreach Manager at UVA's School of Education and Human Development. Jen has been an educator for over 20 years and is excited to share APL with elementary school teachers. She especially enjoys working with diverse groups of learners and developing classroom strategies to promote student collaboration, individual growth, and a lasting love of learning.

Kat has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and over 10 years of experience teaching, mentoring, and coaching in Northern Virginia. In her time in Fairfax and Prince William counties, she has worked in a variety of communities with wide ranges of strengths and needs. Kat joins the APL team with extensive experience accelerating the growth of learners through collaborative and culturally responsive teaching. She believes in a strengths-based approach to foster a joy for learning in the students and teachers she supports. 

With over 10 years of teaching, Karen has extensive experience as a Special Education teacher working with students to support their academic and social skills development. Karen excels in creating a multi-sensory, language-based classroom, incorporating visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic support. Her high-impact instructional strategies cater to individual learning needs. She fosters a nurturing, positive, safe, and respectful student-centered environment, ensuring success for all students. 

Kimberly is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia, majored in Youth and Social Innovation. As a Research Assistant at APL, she infuses her work with a fresh perspective driven by her passion for innovation and research. Kimberly's commitment to creating meaningful impact for low-income communities fuels her aspirations to extend her research beyond her post-graduate studies.

Sara Arnold is part of APL's Data Collector and Research Assistants Team. She is a current student at George Mason University, pursuing a M.S. in Criminal Justice. Prior to this, she spent time working as a teacher at a Head Start daycare program. With a diverse background in research, from the study of social patterns to program implementation, Sara looks forward to bringing a unique perspective to the APL Team.

Emily holds two B.A.s in Environmental Studies and Anthropology from Eckerd College and is interested in the intersection of student learning and environmental responsibility. She joins the APL team as part of the Research Assistants and Data Collection team. In her role she helps with developing coaching resources and offering media support. She has prior experience conducting anthropological research and is thrilled to contribute to the APL project.

Jane is our Intermediate Administrative Coordinator supporting all administrative tasks associated with the project. She has a B.S. In Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas-Austin. Jane had four years of experience working with cognitive research in college. Prior to APL, Jane was a project lead in Virginia Beach, while being a classroom observer and data collector. She brings different perspectives to the role. Jane especially enjoys building partnerships between schools, administrators, staff and students.

Journay Clinch is a member of APL's Data Collection Team, functioning as a Research Assistant. She holds a B.S. in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, and served as a researcher in the Social Psychology and Neuroscience Lab under Dr. Chester. She also has over six years of experience working with children of varying developmental and mental needs in her employment as an In-Home Assistant, CNA, Psychiatric Mental Health Technician, and currently, ABA therapist. Journay is passionate about the intersection of human development, education, and environmentalism, and is honored to be a part of APL’s mission of bringing more joy into children’s learning!